(a) whether the Government have received complaints during the last one year from various State Governments regarding supply of poor quality foodgrains to them by Central agencies;
(b) if so, the details of such States alongwith their complaints;
(c) the steps taken by the Union Government with respect to such complaints; and
(d) the remedial measures taken in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SHANTA KUMAR )
(a),(b),(c) & (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a),(b),(c) & (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 38
DUE FOR ANSWER ON 01-03-2002 IN THE LOK SABHA.
(a)&(b): Some complaints were received in this regard during the last one year.
While the complaints received from the State Governments of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra and Rajasthan and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi related to
the supply of lustre lost wheat, the complaints received from the State Governments of Goa and
Kerala related to the quality of rice stocks.
(c)&(d): The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is required to supply foodgrains conforming
to the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act standards to the States for distribution under
the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and other welfare schemes. The State Governments
are free to inspect the stocks and satisfy themselves about their quality before lifting the
same from FCI depots. The State Governments have also been advised to depute an officer not
below the rank of Inspector to check the quality of stocks.
The lustre lost wheat is as good as sound wheat in terms of nutritional value. As
regards the complaints received from the State Governments of Goa and Kerala regarding rice
stocks, FCI has been asked to ensure the supply of good quality rice.